Is Louisiana a good state for your salary to go far?

Louisiana ranks #33 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 97.8 across 369 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 88.2 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.

What is the cost of living in Louisiana?

Louisiana's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 88.2, where the US average is 100. That is at or below the national average, so a dollar buys as much as or more than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / Louisiana

Where Your Salary Goes Furthest in Louisiana

Louisiana ranks #33 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index (mean 97.8, base = 100). Cost of living 88.2 (US = 100); top income tax 3.00%.

Does a salary go further in Louisiana? (cost of living + state tax)

In Louisiana, the cost of living is 88.2 on the BEA index (US = 100) and the Gera US Real Pay Index averages 97.8 across 369 occupations, ranking it #33 of 51 states for how far pay goes after 2025 state income tax and 2024 BEA cost of living. Real BLS OEWS; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

Louisiana ranks #33 of 51 states. Mean across 369 occupations; 100 = the average state, 97.8 means pay goes -2.2% less far after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

97.8

Real pay by occupation in Louisiana (best first)

Occupation	BLS median	Real pay	Index
Pediatricians, General	$502,720	$553,259	257.7
Chemical Technicians	$85,850	$94,833	158.0
Business Teachers, Postsecondary	$129,040	$142,329	150.6
Coaches and Scouts	$60,960	$67,462	140.9
Environmental Engineers	$130,510	$143,945	138.6
Physicians, All Other	$350,920	$386,327	137.1
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products	$124,200	$137,006	132.2
Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers	$80,210	$88,631	131.7
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary	$125,130	$138,029	131.5
Education Teachers, Postsecondary	$83,710	$92,480	129.8
Industrial Engineers	$122,920	$135,599	128.0
Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors	$66,870	$73,961	126.7
Mechanical Engineers	$119,540	$131,882	125.9
Chemists	$103,890	$114,672	125.5
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary	$91,340	$100,870	124.4
Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	$58,640	$64,911	122.6
Conservation Scientists	$80,190	$88,609	122.4
Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers	$62,250	$68,881	122.2
Electrical Engineers	$123,710	$136,467	120.0
Industrial Production Managers	$133,210	$146,914	118.9
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners	$61,150	$67,671	118.0
Civil Engineers	$105,380	$116,310	117.8
Fundraisers	$72,030	$79,636	117.6
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians	$82,990	$91,688	116.4
Production Workers, All Other	$45,210	$50,142	116.1
Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians	$68,030	$75,237	116.1
Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks	$44,520	$49,383	116.0
Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other	$53,790	$59,577	115.9
Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping	$48,890	$54,189	115.6
Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary	$78,710	$86,981	115.4
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers	$77,520	$85,673	115.3
First-Line Supervisors of Protective Service Workers, All Other	$76,400	$84,441	115.2
Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers	$50,150	$55,574	114.2
Machinists	$61,110	$67,627	114.0
Social and Community Service Managers	$82,090	$90,698	114.0
Postal Service Clerks	$63,210	$69,936	113.3
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks	$60,120	$66,538	112.6
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians	$79,780	$88,158	112.5
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators	$45,070	$49,988	112.1
Postmasters and Mail Superintendents	$96,550	$106,600	112.1

Showing the 40 highest real-pay occupations of 369 BLS publishes for Louisiana. Real pay = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the 2024 BEA cost of living (88.2, US = 100).

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In Louisiana, a $85,000 salary is worth about $93,473 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $2,550 (flat 3.00%) · take-home $82,450 · BEA cost of living 88.2 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $95,952, a $2,479 gain over Louisiana.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$95,952	88.6
2	Arkansas	$93,959	86.9
3	Louisiana	$93,473	88.2
4	Mississippi	$93,453	87.0
5	Iowa	$93,172	87.8
6	North Dakota	$93,161	89.0
7	Tennessee	$92,522	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$92,167	87.8
9	Wyoming	$91,703	92.7
10	Alabama	$90,911	88.8
11	Kentucky	$90,507	90.2
12	West Virginia	$90,397	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

Louisiana real pay — FAQ

Is Louisiana a good state for your salary to go far?: Louisiana ranks #33 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 97.8 across 369 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 88.2 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.
What is the cost of living in Louisiana?: Louisiana's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 88.2, where the US average is 100. That is at or below the national average, so a dollar buys as much as or more than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

Compare other states

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for Louisiana is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.